Bahrain Mirror: The Associated Press (AP) reported on Monday (December 12, 2016), that "Human rights groups are sharply criticizing a Bahraini appeal court's ruling upholding a nine-year prison sentence against the country's leading Shiite opposition figure [Sheikh Ali Salman]." 

Amnesty International and the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy were among the groups condemning Monday's verdict against Sheikh Ali Salman, according to AP.

The news agency also quoted Amnesty's Mideast Deputy Director of Campaigns Samah Hadid as saying the ruling shows "Bahrain's flagrant disregard for the right to freedom of expression."

Sheikh Ali Salman was initially sentenced to four years on charges that included incitement and insulting the Interior Ministry, prompting appeals by his lawyers and prosecutors. In May his sentence was raised to nine years on appeal, a ruling upheld Monday.

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